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Michigan tax sales: the season preview

What's actually for sale

Michigan sells tax deeds. First-auction minimum bid is generally the total of delinquent taxes, interest, penalties and fees; unsold parcels are re-offered at lower minimums and can pass to land banks or local units. Deeds are quitclaim - buyers typically need a quiet-title action, and former owners may claim surplus proceeds after Rafaeli v. Oakland County.

The rate that decides your return

n/a - Michigan is a pure tax deed state: no lien certificate is sold to a private buyer, so there is no buyer interest rate. Interest on delinquent taxes (1% per month, rising to 1.5% per month after forfeiture) accrues to the county, not to an investor.

The clock you're investing against

Sale schedule: Taxes are returned delinquent March 1, forfeited to the county treasurer the following March 1, and foreclosed in the third year; county treasurer auctions of foreclosed property are held roughly July through November, with a first sale at a minimum bid and later sales at reduced or no minimum bid.

Redemption: No post-sale redemption. The owner's right to redeem ends March 31 following entry of the foreclosure judgment (or 21 days after judgment in a contested case), before the auction is held (MCL 211.78k).

Where the sales happen

Title Check LLC via tax-sale.info runs the state sale and many county sales; Wayne County and a number of other counties use Bid4Assets; some counties use GovEase or hold county-run / in-person sales.. Lists post on the county's schedule, change as owners redeem, and registration typically closes before sale day — the investors who see the list first set the market.

Deep dives: Michigan laws · Michigan investing guide · Michigan sale calendar. Law verified 2026-10-30.